Here's my newest fanfiction! Enjoy and please review!

I would like to thank Spyre of the Wolves for creating Beetlewing, Cedarclaw, Owlpaw, Blizzardtail, and Blazeheart.

ALLEGIANCES

ThunderClan

Leader: Eaglestar—cream-and-brown tom

Deputy: Lilytail—pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Medicine cat: Owlflight—dark brown she-cat (Apprentice, Newtpaw)

Warriors: Beetlewing—dark brown tom with green eyes (Apprentice, Owlpaw)
Cedarclaw—reddish brown she-cat with amber eyes
Specklestep—small brown she-cat with black spots
Ashwhisker—gray tom
Brambletooth—black tom with long fangs (Apprentice, Snakepaw)
Cloverspots—pale gray she-cat with green eyes
Hollynose—ginger-and-white she-cat
Sparkfur—ginger tom
Smoketail—black tom (Apprentice, Olivepaw)
Fleetfeather—pale brown tabby tom
Sorrelfang—tortoiseshell she-cat

Apprentices: Newtpaw—black tom
Owlpaw—tan-and-white she-cat
Snakepaw—dark gray tom
Olivepaw—gray she-cat with green eyes

Queens: Dappleheart—tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat with blue eyes; mother of Eaglestar's kits: Icekit, Greenkit, Willowkit, and Yellowkit
Nettleheart—brown tabby she-cat; expecting Ashwhisker's kits

Kits: Icekit—white tom
Greenkit—white she-cat with green eyes
Willowkit—reddish brown she-cat
Yellowkit—black tom with yellow eyes

Elders: Rowanfur—reddish brown tom
Lizardtail—black tom

ShadowClan

Leader: Willowstar—ginger she-cat

Deputy: Darkfang—dark gray tom (Apprentice, Mothpaw)

Medicine cat: Stonetail—pale gray tom

Warriors: Foxpelt—ginger tom with green eyes (Apprentice, Amberpaw)
Hawkfeather—dark brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Waterfur—gray she-cat with blue eyes
Creektail—pale brown tom (Apprentice, Shrewpaw)
Slateclaw—gray tom
Stonewing—pale gray she-cat
Sagefur—white she-cat (Apprentice, Oakpaw)
Daisypelt—black-and-white she-cat
Owlstrike—brown tom
Leafclaw—black tom (Apprentice, Mousepaw)
Darkfeather—black she-cat
Firetail—ginger she-cat
Duskheart—tawny she-cat

Apprentices: Oakpaw—brown tom
Mothpaw—black she-cat
Shrewpaw—tabby tom
Amberpaw—tawny she-cat with amber eyes
Mousepaw—pale gray she-cat

Queens: Goldenfur—tawny she-cat; mother of Creektail's kits: Mistkit, Volekit and Adderkit
Patchtail—black-and-brown she-cat; expecting Owlstrike's kits

Kits: Mistkit—pale brown she-cat
Volekit—black tom
Adderkit—tawny tom

Elders: Darkclaw—dark gray tom
Suntail—pale golden tom
Tallheart—gray she-cat

WindClan

Leader: Yellowstar—golden tom

Deputy: Gustfur—small brown she-cat

Medicine cat: Icepelt—white she-cat

Warriors: Blizzardtail—black-and-white tom with blue eyes
Thrushfall—small tabby tom (Apprentice, Wildpaw)
Shadefoot—brown she-cat with black paws
Sleetclaw—speckled gray tom (Apprentice, Buzzardpaw)
Skyfur—gray-and-white she-cat
Ashtail—gray she-cat (Apprentice, Morningpaw)
Tanglefang—brown tabby tom
Harepelt—brown she-cat (Apprentice, Breezepaw)
Berrytail—gray-and-white tom
Blueheart—blue-gray she-cat (Apprentice, Nightpaw)
Sandclaw—ginger tom

Apprentices: Morningpaw—pale gray she-cat
Wildpaw—black tom
Nightpaw—black she-cat
Breezepaw—ginger she-cat
Buzzardpaw—tabby tom

Queens: Amberfoot—small gray she-cat; mother of Tanglefang's kits: Fawnkit, Nettlekit, and Dawnkit

Kits: Fawnkit—small gray she-cat
Nettlekit—brown tabby tom
Dawnkit—cream she-cat

Elders: Hollyfang—brindled she-cat
Cloudheart—small white tom

RiverClan

Leader: Wavestar—bluish-gray she-cat

Deputy: Sandtail—pale brown tom

Medicine cat: Voleheart—dark brown tom (Apprentice, Sunstreak)

Warriors: Blazeheart—black-and-ginger tom
Webtail—gray tom
Cinderfoot—gray she-cat
Featherpelt—black she-cat
Spiderclaw—brown tom
Rippleheart—ginger she-cat
Petalfur—gray she-cat
Ravenwing—black tom
Cedarstep—yellowish tom (Apprentice, Russetpaw)
Blackfur—black she-cat (Apprentice, Poppypaw)

Apprentices: Sunstreak—pale golden tom
Russetpaw—ginger tom
Poppypaw—white she-cat

Queens: Jayheart—black she-cat; mother of Webtail's kit: Lilykit
Cherrytail—ginger she-cat; mother of Ravenwing's kits: Graykit and Hawkkit
Brightpelt—golden she-cat; expecting Sandtail's kits

Kits: Lilykit—gray she-cat
Graykit—dark gray tom
Hawkkit—ginger tom

Elders: Kestrelheart—tabby she-cat
Heatherpelt—tawny she-cat
Pinefur—black tom

Breakaway

..

Chapter 1

..

Fleetfeather bounded through the woods, glancing over his shoulder.

Can't let anyone see, can't let anyone know... he thought to himself. Guilt filled his chest. He knew what he was doing was wrong, he knew it was against the code, but... he couldn't help himself.

His Clan didn't know. None of his friends knew. He was all by himself in this secret... well, no. Firetail knew, too... but she was part of the secret.

Fleetfeather was a handsome young tom with soft tabby fur, brown and pale. The she-cats of ThunderClan sighed after him, but Fleetfeather wasn't interested in how attractive they thought his green eyes were and how kind they saw he was to the kits and elders. He was already taken, though he couldn't let anybody know.

He reached the border, nervous and worried, and ducked under a nearby bush. He sat and waited, motionless and apprehensive, for several minutes. Fleetfeather breathed in the scent of ShadowClan: marsh, pines, small things that creeped and crawled... Not too long ago, he would have thought this scent to be disgusting. How he drank it in, sifting through the odors of the enemy territory. It smelled... good, almost.

No, he told himself firmly. ShadowClan scent smells bad. It just reminds you of Firetail.

As if the mere thought of the enemy warrior could summon her, there was a rustle in the bushes across the border. Out stepped a lithe ginger she-cat, her bright amber-green eyes flashing with anger. It was she: Firetail of ShadowClan. Fleetfeather's big secret.

Internally, Fleetfeather sighed. Couldn't she once—just once—be in a calm, happy mood when she came to see him? Couldn't once she come up to him with a purr and a soft murmur of his name? Couldn't once they spend a pleasant and enjoyable evening together, without any drama?

But no, Firetail was always in a huff or an excitement about something. Her eyes were always bright, her movements strong, her mind certain. It was part of the reason Fleetfeather loved her.

"Firetail," he greeted her calmly. "How are you today?"

"Absolutely dreadful!" Firetail snapped at him as she plowed across the border, ignoring the scent lines. "Stonewing's kits had their apprentice ceremonies today, and once again I was passed up! By Foxpelt, no less! That walking fleabag can't even groom his own fur correctly! He's so old he should be an elder! He's had his chance before! I'm young and strong—and clean! Amberpaw should have been my apprentice! Doesn't Willowstar know I haven't had one yet?"

Fleetfeather listened to this barrage of words with mild amusement. This was the same old Firetail. He had missed her.

"Foxpelt is more experienced," he pointed out. "Amberpaw, from what you've told me before, might need a little extra help. And some more patience. What about her sister, Mousekit? I mean, Mousepaw?"

Firetail sat down beside him and scowled, swishing her tail back and forth. "Leafclaw got her," she mumbled.

"Your brother?" Fleetfeather asked in surprise. Now it really did seem like Willowstar was favoring other warriors over Firetail.

"Yes!" the ginger she-cat snapped. "But I can't begrudge him. He even apologized to me after the ceremony. And we all knew Mousepaw requested him for a mentor. Who can blame her? Leafclaw's a strong, talented warrior, whereas me..." She heaved a sigh. "I'm too stubborn and rash."

"No, you're not," Fleetfeather said loyally but untruthfully.

"Yes, I am," Firetail insisted.

"Well, okay, maybe," he admitted, "but you're also smart, charismatic, full of energy, and a great friend." He blinked warmly at her. "You'll be a great mentor someday. Stonewing's kits just weren't' right for you."

Firetail smiled at him, affection in her warm eyes. "Thanks, Fleetfeather. I wish we were in the same Clan. You make life so much more bearable."

"I wish, too," he murmured. "But it can't be that way. I'm tied to ThunderClan, and you're tied to ShadowClan. We should just be thankful our Clans are at peace right now, and that no one has discovered us yet."

Firetail pressed herself against him. "I love you, Fleetfeather," she said softly. "I know. But we can dream."

"Yes," he agreed, leaning against her as well. "We can dream."

When Fleetfeather returned to camp, his brother Smoketail was waiting for him. Behind the big, smoky black tom trailed his little apprentice, Olivepaw. He bit back a sigh. Smoketail must want him to help with her training. Again.

While he had kindly comforted his mate about not having an apprentice, Fleetfeather was unhappy about his situation in his own Clan. He, too, was apprenticeless. He, too, was forced to watch his siblings and the senior warriors become mentors while he watched in frustration.

Still, although he was baffled as to why he must, he would wait. Fleetfeather sometimes begrudged his brother Olivepaw as an apprentice—Smoketail could be immature and impatient, and he, Fleetfeather, was wiser and smarter—but he always snapped himself out of it when Smoketail came to him for assistance. Eaglestar would give him an apprentice in time.

"Hi, Smoketail," he greeted his brother.

"Fleetfeather, where have you been?" Smoketail demanded. "We were looking for you everywhere!"

Fleetfeather started guiltily, looking away. His heart pounded. He had no excuse: he hadn't been hunting because he hadn't brought back any prey, he hadn't been on a patrol because he was alone... What to say, what to say?

"I... went on a walk," he said lamely, hoping Smoketail and Olivepaw wouldn't notice the guilt in his eyes.

"A walk?" Smoketail said suspiciously. "Oh, no." Fleetfeather held his breath. He couldn't know about Firetail... could he? But then the smoky black tom chuckled, his amber eyes sparkling, and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you ate without permission if you don't tell on me."

Relieved, Fleetfeather chuckled. "We're not apprentices anymore, Smoketail," he reminded his brother.

Smoketail smiled, nudging Olivepaw. "It still feels like it, some days. Anyway, we should set a good example for the apprentices, huh?"

"What do you want me for?" Fleetfeather asked, composing himself. That was close. Too close. Next time he had to bring back some prey as an excuse for why he'd been gone.

"Can you help me teach Olivepaw the Warrior's Leap?" Smoketail asked.

Fleetfeather resisted rolling his eyes. Smoketail's strength was not in battle, and he was always dragging him along to help Olivepaw with various battle moves. He was sure the shy young she-cat was getting tired of his presence in the mossy clearing. Sometimes he felt like he was Olivepaw's mentor.

"Sure," he agreed, masking his true feelings behind politeness. "I'd be happy to help."

When Fleetfeather collapsed into his nest that evening, he couldn't help but wish he had someone to talk to. Aside from Smoketail and a few of the older warriors, he didn't really have many friends in ThunderClan. Sometimes he wished he could leave his Clan and join ShadowClan, but he had ventured briefly into Firetail's territory before and could never feel at home among the pines.

And what if he had to attack his kin in a battle someday? Of course, there was the possibility of having to attack Firetail in battle... he shuddered to think of the possibility.

Fleetfeather tried to push aside these melancholy thoughts and focus on sleep, but as he closed his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Specklestep and Brambletooth, longtime mates, snuggling together in one nest. He felt a pang of envy. If only he and Firetail could sleep like that...

Despite being tired, he lay awake in his nest for a long time before he drifted off to sleep. Those would be thoughts for another day...